2 days of diving in Cairns. Recommendations?

[Snid]

Hello all:

It looks like I will be able to take a solo detour from a business trip for a couple of days of diving from Cairns in late September. From what I can tell, the time constraints will limit me to the Outer Reef, and those trips are popular for those getting certified. I have been diving for decades, but off and on, so very comfortable, but couldn't be considered hardcore. My ideal trip might be a 2-day liveaboard on a small boat with divers with some experience, rather than a large boat full of brand new divers. Or possibly just two day trips. Any recommendations on trip planning or outfits to look at? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Wobbegong wannabe]

I dived with Silverswift recently on a day trip out of Cairns, and it was great.
They divided the certified divers into groups based on experience, and my group included a DM and a very experienced guy. The newly certified divers were all together.

The day dives out of Port Douglas are also good (arguably better diving, though as always it depends on the day) and the operators run to a similar schedule. You could do a day dive out of Cairns followed by a day dive out of Port Douglas and be back in Cairns each night.

I'm not a boat person (putting it mildly :tmi2 so I haven't done any of the liveaboards.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

I also agree with Wobby above that Silverswift or Tusa are the pick of the day boats. Both cater well for certified divers.

A live aboard will give you a bit more variety and you can opt for 3 or 2 day trips. if you want to do 3 day 2 night trip then Taka or Pro Dives Scubapro would be the best. if you wanted 2 day 1 night trip then its Taka again, or the budget Kangaroo Explorer (1 less dive and a older boat but still OK sites).

 

[OnTheSpot]

Taka and Kangaroo explorer are both good options, they both accommodate around 30 divers. They both stay on the reef and transfer divers out by speedboat so you can stay for as few or as many nights as you wish.

 

[bracko]

Tusa is a big boat, you also have the chance to pick your own buddies on the way out while everyone is setting up their gear. I found this pretty useful, I just wandered around and looked to see who had well used gear and asked if they didn't mind a 3rd wheel.

there were probably 65 snorkelers and 10-12 divers? first location the sent all the divers to roughly the same area then the second spot they split us up and swapped us over two area for the last two dives.

it's by no means difficult diving.

I believe you can do night dives on the dive platforms which may be of interest to you.

 

[Butch Fries]

We dove out of Port Douglas because we couldn't afford a liveboard and had some great dives. Just do be prepared for the price.